Is your Rx to blame?

Some pills (such as antacids) soothe the painful burning you experience after downing an order of buffalo wings or drinking one too many glasses of wine.

Other pillsthe ones you take for health conditions that are not related to heartburncan make the pain worse or even trigger heartburn in the first place.
Is your medication to blame for your pain? This guide will help you find out.

Is your Rx to blame?

Some pills (such as antacids) soothe the painful burning you experience after downing an order of buffalo wings or drinking one too many glasses of wine.

Other pillsthe ones you take for health conditions that are not related to heartburncan make the pain worse or even trigger heartburn in the first place.
Is your medication to blame for your pain? This guide will help you find out.

Ibuprofen

Popular over-the-counter ibuprofen products such as Motrin and Advil can increase acid production in the stomach. Try acetaminophen (Tylenol) instead.

“It does not increase acid levels,” says Vivek Kaul, MD, a gastroenterologist at the University of Rochester Medical Center, in Rochester, N.Y.

Even a narcotic such as Percocet may be better for your stomach than taking six Motrin tablets a day, he says. But some narcotics can cause heartburn—in addition to being habit-forming—so discuss your options with your physician.

Blood pressure drugs

The blood pressure medications known as calcium channel blockers and beta blockers can provoke heartburn by relaxing the lower esophageal sphincter, which can allow stomach acid to seep up into the esophagus.

If this happens to you, ask your doctor about alternatives. “There are a lot of blood pressure medications out there, and sometimes you can successfully switch,” says Timothy Pfanner, MD, assistant professor of internal medicine at Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, in College Station.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics such as tetracylcine that are used to treat common bacterial infections can cause heartburn.

If you experience heartburn often and need an antibiotic, check with your doctor to see if she can prescribe one that’s gentle on the esophagus and stomach, or if an enteric-coated antibiotic is available.

Potassium supplements

These supplements are often taken to normalize high blood pressure, but they can irritate the lining of the esophagus, says Dr. Kaul.

Not every patient who takes potassium is going to suffer from heartburn. To reduce your chances, be sure to take the medicine while sitting up and wash it down with plenty of water.

If you still feel the burn, ask your doctor for another type of blood pressure medication or for a slow-release enteric-coated version of potassium. (The coating causes the medication to dissolve in your small intestine instead of in your stomach.)